Boyds man charged with sex offense

A goodwill ambassador for the Bethesda Urban Partnership was arrested last week following alleged sexual contact he had with a 14-year-old girl, according to Montgomery County police.

Pedro Ernesto Herrera, 23, of Boyds was arrested Friday and charged with a third-degree sexual offense after police received information that he performed a sexual act with a Friendship Heights teen, said police spokeswoman Lucille Baur.

Police allege Herrera had intercourse with the girl on Sept. 16, during Herrera's work day, in an unoccupied public bathroom of the Hyatt Hotel in downtown Bethesda.

Herrera and the 14-year-old met last month when Herrera was working for BUP outside the Bethesda Metro station near the Hyatt, Baur said, while Herrera was wearing a BUP uniform. The two exchanged phone numbers at that time and kept in touch before meeting on Sept. 16.

The Bethesda Urban Partnership is a nonprofit dedicated to the promotion and upkeep of downtown Bethesda. Herrera was part of the group's "Ask Me Team", which patrols downtown Bethesda answering questions for travelers and residents and providing basic first aid, said Stephanie Coppula, a spokeswoman for the partnership.

Herrera was still within a probationary 90-day period after his hire, Coppula said, and resigned from his position during the investigation. BUP employees receive a background check prior to their employment and Herrera had no criminal history, Coppula said.

As of Monday afternoon, Herrera did not have an attorney in the case, according to court records. An attempt to reach him at a listed number was unsuccessful.

Baur said police were not aware of any further illegal contact between Herrera and the 14-year-old, whose name has not been released. Baur said she was not sure how police were notified of the incident, or if the 14-year-old presented herself as being a different age.

Herrera was released from police custody following payment of an $8,500 bond. Under Maryland law, a person 21 years of age or older cannot engage in sexual contact with a 14-year-old. A third-degree sexual offense is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in jail, according to Maryland sentencing guidelines.

Those with any further relevant information about Herrera are encouraged to call the police's Family Crimes division at 240-773-5400.